Bowling alley pin resetting machine



NOV'- 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER BOWLING ALLEY PIN REsETTxNG MACHINE 17sheets-sheet i Filed Aug. 1e, 1955 NOV 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet2 183 785 /86 184 x4# 5 4 14' 5 -O -197- I3 9 1 rt l 9 Y Li., QTL 2% 46727 727 727 7127746 i0 NVENTOR.'

.Enano Sherz/cng/er,

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

l BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17Sheets-Sheet 5 lirjuno herz/vngr,

BY ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHr-:RzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE' 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 16,1955 /N VE N TOR:

Br/uno .Scherzi/219,492',

wlmwufgya @JMW ATTORNEY B. SCHERZINGER BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTINGMACHINE Nov. 3, 1959 17 SheetswSheet 5 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 /Nl/ENTOR:

Bzguno Sphez'zp'nqgr,

dcbvw ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER BOWLING `LLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE 17Sheets-Shea?l 6 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 ATTORNE YS.,

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MWI

x hmm Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESEITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet'7 /N VEN TOR.'

Br/uno kScherzi2153er,

MMJMJ MW ATTORNEYS;

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNG-ER BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE 17Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 /N VEN Tok ATTORNEYS.

BY MM) Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet9 /NVENTOR Mw, @dgl www NOV 3 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

l BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17Sheets-Sheetl 10 Fvg .20.

/Nl/ENTOR.

.Br/uno Scherz/79pm ATTORNEYS..

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE 17Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 /NVENTORI Bry no Spherz/ing,

, 4,, QV? /wv l ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, .1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

y BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESEIIING MACHINE A med Aug. 1e, 195s 1vsheets-sheet 12 /N VE N TOR I Briano Sgrzinlggr,

Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHx-:RzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1e,v 1955 1v sheets-sheet1s /N VENTOR.'

Br/uno Sherzcnlger, (Swim, BY a 1 L0 ATTORNEYS.

NOV- 3Q 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1955 17 shams-snee*bI4 Nov. 3, 1959 scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE Filed Aug. i6, 1955 17 Sheets-Sheet15 Fig. 32.

//Vl/f/V 70H 37u77@ SC/7672.195727 Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER BOWLINGALLEY PIN RESETTING MACHINE]v 17 sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Aug. 16. 1955 nlq .EUS q S Enmwm mQ ma w mm mm 2 Gm Q uw @f f 7/ EW mm wm mK ww mm mw mmmm E mz z S @25mm S jq QQ N ZQ 9v INVENTOR.

25m Si Bruno Spherzinggr,

ATTURNE YS Nov. 3, 1959 B. scHERzlNGER 2,911,218

BOWLING ALLEY PIN RESEITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1e, 1955 1v sheets-sheet1v ATTORNIEYS.

United States Fatent Zlil Patented Nov. 3, 1959 free BOWLING ALLEY PENnnsnr'rnso MACHINE Application August 16, 19,55, Serial No. 528,711Claims priority, application Canada September 177, 1954 Claims. (Cl.273-43) This invention relates to improvements in machines for resettingthe pins in a bowling alley between frames and sweeping the alley clearof fallen pinsV and balls during the balls of a frame.

The invention is concerned with a machine suitable for use with pins ofthe type having a projecting peripheral band, i.e. the type of pin usedin the ive-pin game, and

f as furnishing an example of the invention, may for convenience bedivided into live sections, these sections bemgv in turn sub-dividedinto individual mechanisms or parts. T he-ve main sections are broadlyas follows:

(A) The pin setting unit-this comprises five individual pin holdingmechanisms;

(B) An alley sweeping mechanism and the control linkages for suchmechanism;

(C) The pit clearing unit which acts to clear the pit of balls and pinsand to feed them to the fourth section (D);

(D) The reloading wheel and its associated parts which receives the pinsand balls, feeds the latter to the return rails and the former to thefifth section (E); and

(E) The conveyor and recharging unit which feeds the pins back to thepin setting unit and arranges the travel of individual pins to theseveral pinv holding mechanisms. l

Inevitably, there will be some overlap between sections and no attempthas been made to set up rigid divisions. It is believed, however, thatunderstanding of the machine will be greatly facilitated by reason ofthis sectionalization, and, in the description which follows, eachseiction will be described'both in structure and operation, beforeconsideration is given to the next section. Then finally, the overalloperation of the machine will be described.

ln the preparation of the annexed drawings illustrating the machine, towhich reference will be made in the description, the same policy hasbeen followed. There are a few views of the whole machine to show theinterrelation of the various sections, andra number of fragmentary viewseach concerned with one particular section at a time. n

The complexity of the machine has led to some of the details shown in aview concerned, for example, with the operation of a particular part,being omitted from other views in which the same part may appear, butwhich are furnished primarily to illustrate the operation of otherparts. It follows that exact correspondence does not always existbetween the various figures, but it is believed that such sacrifice hasbeen made to the benefit of a clear appreciation of the importantfeatures of operation of the machine as a whole.

In these annexed drawings: Figure l shows a general side view of thewhole machine with the parts in withdrawn or rest positions;

Figure 2 shows a general end view of the whole machine as seen from thebowling alley itself, i.e. from the right in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragment of the view of Figure l, showing section (A), thepin setting unit, in itsjlowered position for Action l, i.e. the actionwhereby the alley is cleared of fallen pins before completion of a frameby the bowler;

Figure 4 is in tum a fragment of the pin setting unitV illustratingoperating parts not shown in Figure 3;

Figure is a fragmentary side View of the alley sweeping mechanism thatforms section (B');

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the alley sweepingmechanism in a different position;

Figure 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of an individual pinholding mechanism;

Figure 8 is a side view of the pin holding mechanism of Figure 7,showing details of the holding and release mechanism;

Figure 9 is a further side View of the pin setting unit, showing thesame in a retracted position in which it receives pins from section (E),the recharging unit therefor;

Figure l0 is a view similar to Figure 9, showing the pin setting unit ina lowered position just preparatory to Action 2 in which a fresh set ofpins is set up for the next frame of balls;

Figure ll is a view generally similar to Figure 10 but with the parts inthe positions assumed a moment later, exactly at the moment ofresetting;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary exploded view of the parts seen in Figure 4,demonstrating their operation at the moment of resetting seen in Figure11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section on the line XIII- XIII in Figure l0;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side view of the machine showing principallysection (C), the pit clearing unit, but also including parts of the pinsetting unit;

Figure 15 is a view ofthe pit clearing unit of Figure 14 in a secondposition; i

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view of a detail of the mechanism shown inFigure 4;

Figure 17 is a side view of the parts shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16, but showing the parts indifferent positions; i

Figure 19 is a side view of section (D), the reloading wheel;

Figure 20 isfa' fragmentary plan view of the top of the reloading wheelseen in Figure 19, and associated parts;

Figure 21 is a detail end view of a part of the reloading Wheel as seenfrom the right of Figure 19, demonstrating the method by which amisaligned pin is repositioned.

Figure 22 is an end view of the whole reloading wheel as seen from therighthand side of Figure 19;

Figure 23 is a sectional View of the wheel shown in Figure 19, showingdetails of the pin gripping parts; i

Figure 24 is a side view of the parts sho-wn in Figure 23; v

Figure 25 is a view similar to Figure 23, showing the parts in a secondposition;

Figure 26 is a side View of the parts shown in Figure 25;

Figure 27 is a general plan View of the whole machine, showing moreparticularly the conveyor and recharging unit, section (E) and itsrelationship to the preceding section, the reloading wheel;

Figure 28 is a plan view of the recharging unit alone A in a rstoperating position;

Figure 30 is a side fragmentary view of the parts shown in Figure 29,including also details of a linkage between these parts and the pinsetting unit;

Figure 31a is a view similar to Figure 29 showing the parts in differentpositions;

Figure 31h is a further view similar to Figure 29 showing the parts instill further positions;

Figure 32 is a section on the line XXXII-QQQQI in Figure 31a;

Figure 33 is a plan view similar to Figure 28, showing the operation ofthe parts when in the position of Figure 31a;

Figure 34 is a time plan diagrammatically illustrating the operations ofthe pin setting unit;

Figure 35 is a fragmentary plan view of the driving and transmissionparts of the machine; and

Figure 36 is a side view of the parts seen in Figure 35, as seen fromthe bottom of such latter figure.

As best appreciated from the general views of Figures l, 2 and 27, themachine is situated at the remote end of a bowling alley 1, the pinsetting unit being supported over the ive pins 2 by a suitablestraddling framework 3. The alley 1 has the usual gutters 4 at each sideand a pit 5 at the rear. The return rail whereby the balls are returnedto the bowler is shown by the reference numeral 6.

The construction of the pin setting unit (A) will now be described withparticular reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4. Five pin holding mechanisms7 are secured to a carriage 3 in a triangular array corresponding to thearrangement of the pins 2 so that one such mechanism 7 is disposed abovethe position occupied by each pin. The carriage 8 is mounted on the mainframework 3 of the machine for vertical straight line motion from theretracted position shown in Figure 1, to various lowered positions, thatof Figure 3 for example. True vertical movement of the carriage 8 isensured by a pair of link mechanisms each consisting of two pairs ofparallel links 9 and 10 pivotally connected together by means of a link11, a further link 12 pivotally connecting one of the links 9 to theframework 3 of the machine. These parts can also be seen in Figures 2and 27. The free ends of links 16 are secured to a bracket 13 fixed tothe framework 3, and the free ends of the links 9 are secured to abracket 14 attached to the movable carriage 8. This latter bracket 14carries a roller 15 that runs along a surface 16 of the former bracket13. These parts are duplicated on the remote side of the machine as itis seen in Figures 1 and 3, as may be observed from Figures 2 and 27.

While the parallel link mechanisms ensure accurate straight linevertical movement of the carriage S, they do not impel such carriage.This latter function is carried out by a crank arm 17 connected to thebracket 14 on the carriage S by a connecting rod 18. These parts aresimilarly duplicated on the remote side of the machine, but, forsimplicity, only one set of parts will be described. At this pointreference should be made to any one of Figures 9, and ll and Figures 35and 36 for illustration of the means driving the crank arms 17, sincethese parts have been omitted from Figures 1 and 3.

Each crank arm 17 is rigidly secured to one end of a shaft 17 extendingacross the machine. Near the centre of this shaft 17' is mounted asprocket wheel 19 connected by means of a chain 20 to a further sprocketwheel 21 mounted on a sleeve 21 (Figure 35) freely rotatable about atransverse shaft 23, to each end of which is secured an arm 22. The twoarms 22 carry the shaft 17' on which the crank arms 17 are mounted.These arms 22 are rocker arms, their oscillation being controlled bymeans later to be described. There is also secured to approximately thecentre of the shaft l23, a further '4 arm 22 carries an extension 63bearing a cam follower 62 which, as later described, cooperates with acam 61.

The carriage S is capable of two types of vertical downward motion. Thefirst type of motion, which is employed for Action 1 of the pin settingunit, i.e. the action desired when the alley is to be cleared of fallenpins` before completion of a frame of balls, is brought about byrotation of each crank arm 17, with the rocker arms 22 and 22 heldstationary in their upper position, i.e. as shown in Figure l. Figure 3indicates this action, the crank arm being shown in this latter figureafter a onehalf revolution from the position shown in Figure 1. Suchrotation of the crank arms 17 which brings the carriage 8 to theposition shown in Figure 3, ensures that pivotally mounted grippers 27arranged at the bottom of the pin holding mechanisms 7 then come intoregister with the necks of any erect pins 2. Any fallen pins such as theone shown at 2 in Figure 3 are out of reach of such grippers 27. Thegrippers 27 each consist of a bar extending between a pair of fingers,as best seen from Figure 2. On the other hand, reference should be hadto Figure 4 to observe their ope-ration, from which figure it will beseen that the rocker arm 22 supports at its end a cam 29 connected torotate with the shaft 17 driving the crank arms 17. This cam 29 is alsoseen in Figures l2 and 35. In the position shown in Figure 4, the riseof this cam 29 is bearing against a cam follower 30 mounted on a lever31 pivoted to an extension of the arm 22 at 32. The free end of thislever 31 is connected by means of articulated links 33 to a gripperactuating mechanism shown generally in Figure 4 at 34. This mechanism isconnected by a rod 35 to one of the grippers 27. The other gripper 27 isarranged to rotate with the rst such gripper by means of a connectingrod 36. A spring 56 acts to keep the links 33 normally inwardlyarticulate Details of the gripper actuating mechanism 34 are shown inFigures 16, 17 and 18. The mechanism comprises a main plate mounted torotate about a central axis 131. A pair of levers 132 is also mounted torotate about this axis 131, each of such levers being pivoted to afurther lever 133. The two levers 133 are pivotally connected togetherand to the lower link 33 at the point 134. The plate 130 bears a pin 135projecting into an aperture 136 formed in a further plate 137, termedthe switch plate, mounted in a plane parallel to that of the main plate13?, but arranged to pivot about an axis 138 extending parallel to butabove theaxis 131. The rod 35 is connected to a lower point on the plate130. The levers 132 each carry a spring-urged pawl 139 adapted toco-operate with respective recesses in the plate 130. A pair of springs141 connect the points of connection of the levers 132 and 133 to xedpoints on the carriage 8, so that the levers 132 are urged to rotatedownwardly and outwardly about their axes 131.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 16, relaxationof tension in the lower link 33 will permit such downward movement ofthe levers 132 and ultimately the righthand pawl 139 will fall into itsrecess 140. Subsequent upward movement of the links 33 will act to drawthis righthand pawl 139 upwardly and thus rotate the plate 13%) in ananti-clockwise direction, thus pulling the rod 35 to the right andbringing the grippers 27 into engagement with the neck of a pin 2.Figure 18 shows the parts of the gripper actuating mechanism 34 withthis operation partly completed. The plate 137 is canted to the left andthus prevents left-hand pawl 139 entering the left-hand recess 140. Asthe parts move towards the extreme upward position (ie. as shown inFigure 16 except that the plate 130 will now be in its opposite positionwith the righthand recess 141i higher than the lefthand recess 140), thepin 135 presses against an edge of the aperture 136 so as to swing theswitch plate 137 to the right, pivoting about the axis 138. The effectof this movement of the switch plate 137 is to bring a portion of itsperiphery into register with the righthand recess l140 (thus forcing thepawl 139 which has until now been engaged in the righthand recess 140out of such recess) While leaving clear the lefthand recess 140 sovthaton the next downward movement of the links 33 the lefthand pawl 139 canfall into its recess, whereas the righthand pawl 139 is prevented fromsimilar movement. This ensures that the next upward pull on the links 33acts to reverse the movement just taken place, pushing the rod 35 to theleft and releasing theznecks of the pins 2. Thus, successive upwardmovements of the lower link 33 act respectively to engage and releasethe grippers 27 from the pins 2. Only one mechanism 34, containing theparts just described, is included in the machine, the rod 35 acting onthe grippers 27 of each of the pin holding mechanisms '7, by suitablelinkage connections not shown in detail.

The timing of the various parts in such that when the machine is set forAction l (see the lower diagram of the time-plan shown in Figure 34),the carriage 3 moves downwardly from the Figure 1 position to thevFigure 3 position; the grippers 2'. are operated to grasp the 'necks ofany pins still standing; the carriage rises again due to continuedrotation of the crank arm 17, lifting such pins with it clear of thealley; the alley sweeping mechanism operates to sweep any fallen pins orany balls remaining on the alley into the pit; the alley sweepingmechanism is retracted; the carriage descends again to reset the pinspreviously picked up;,and finally the carriage 8 is withdrawn upwardly.The alley is then ready for the remaining balls ofthe frame to beplayed. y

The construction and operation of the alley sweeping mechanism will nowbe described with reference to Figures l, 2, 3, 5, 6', 27, 35 and 36.This mechanism consists essentially of a pair of parallel linkmechanisms arranged one on each side of the machine. Only the linkmechanism on the near side of the machine is seen in Figures 1, 3, 5 and6 and only this mechanism will be described, it being understood thatthe mechanism on the remote side is identical. Each such'parallel linkmechanism consists of parallel links 4l) and 41 connected respectivelyat each end to parallel links 42 and 43, the link 43 extendingdownwardly from its connection to the link 41 to provide an extension44. A sweeping bar 45 on two rolling castors 45 extends across themachine between the two members 44 and sideways extensions 46 are alsoprovided in register with the gutters 4. These gutter-clearingextensions 46 are shown in Figures 2 and 27, having been omitted fromthe other views for the sake of simplicity. The link 4l) is secured atits end remote from its connection to the link 43, to the inner surfaceof the bracket i135 at the point 47, so that the whole mechanism rotatesabout such point. The driving means for the alley sweeping mechanismconsists of a chain 25 driven from a sprocket wheel 24 mounted on asleeve 24 (Figure 35) rotatable about the shaft 23, this chain 25driving over idler sprocket wheels 49 to a sprocket wheel 50 mounted ona shaft 50 the ends of which carry crank arms 51 which each drive one ofthe parallel llink mechanisms through a connecting rod 52 pivotallysecured to the link 4i?. The link 42 carries on an extension a roller 53cooperating With a cam surface 54 (see Figure 6) on the bracket 13. Aspring 55 connects intermediate points of the links 40 and 42.

The withdrawn position of the alley sweeping mechanism is shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3, with the bar 45 raised well clear of the alley 1 andthe pins 2 thereon. As above explained and as illustrated in the lowerdiagram of the time-plan of Figure 34, a downward and rearward sweepingmovement of the alley sweeping mechanism is coordinated with the Actionl movement of the pin setting carriage. The iirst stage in this movementis shown in Figure 5, the crank arm 51 having moved the mechanismdownwardly until the rollers 45 bear against the surface of the alley 1.By this time the roller 53 has begun to ride upwardly on thev camsurface 54 so as to rotate the link-42 clockwise about its connection tothe link 40. This motion is transmitted through the link 41 to the link43 and its extension 44 so that the latter is moved to the left inFigure 5 as the crank arm 51 .con tinues to rotate and move the link 40clockwise about its pivotal point 47. Finally, the parts assume theposition shown in Figure 6, the sweeping bar 45 having by this timeswept any fallen pins 2 and any balls remaining on the alley or in thevgutters into the pit. Continued rotation of the crank arm 51 returns theparts to their initial position, the spring 55 ensuring that the roller53 is pressed against the cam surface 54.

At the conclusion of a frame of balls the machine is required to resetve pins in their appropriate positions on the alley, and this isaccomplished by a different operation of the carriage S and the partssupported thereon, termed Action 2. The sequence of events of Action 2is illustrated diagrammatically in the upper portion of the timeplan ofFigure 34. For consideration of details of the movements of the partsduring Action 2 reference should be made particularly to Figures 9, l0,l1, 12 and 13. In this action there is oscillation of the rocker arms 22and 22 in addition to rotation of the crank arms 1'7, so that the pointof connection betwen each crank arm 17 and its connecting rod 18 followsthe path indicated in Figure 11 by the arrows and lines 60, control ofthe oscillation of the rocker arms 212 and 22 which are all fixed on theshaft Z3 being provided by the cam 61 (see especially Figure 4, Figure10 or Figure 12) acting on the cam follower 62 mounted on the extension63 of the rocker arm 22. Commencing in the withdrawn position shown inFigure 9, the carriage 8 is' lowered by the simultaneous rotation of thecrank arms 17 and downward oscillation of the shaft 17 -by the rockerarms 22 and 22' until the parts assume the position shown in Figure 10with the carriage 8 positioned slightly above the surface of thealley 1. At this point a pair of co-operating surfaces 641and 65provided respectively on the links 9 and 10 of the parallel linkmechanism of the carriage come into contact with one another asillustrated in Figure 13. The purpose of these parts, which it will beseen tend to bind together as the carriage is nally lowered the last fewinches from the Figure l() position to that shown in Figure 11, is toensure positive locking of the carriage 8 in its exact position for theactual pin resetting operation. As appears from Figure l1, each of thepin holding mechanisms 7 is actuated when the carriage 8 assumes itslowermost position, to deposit live pins on the alley 1 in register withspikes 66 which at this time are projecting upwardly through holes inthe iloor of the alley 1 to engage recesses in the bases of the pins 2.These spikes 66 form part of a conventional bowling alley, being mountedon a common plate 67 connected to a lever 63 pivoted at 69. With thepresent machine the lever 6% vis controlled at its free end -by afurther lever '70 operated in the manner later to be described.

For the purpose of illustration, two of the pin holding mechanisms 7 areshown in Figure 11 with the pins released therefrom, while the thirdsuch mechanism shows its pin just at the moment of release, although, ofcourse, in fact, all the pins are released simultaneously.

The release mechanism of the individual pin holding mechanisms 7 isshown in detail in Figure 8. While in position in the mechanism 7, thepin 2 rests with its rubber band 71 against a pair of pads 72 mounted atthe lower ends of levers 73, each such lever being pivoted at 74 to anintermediate point on a further lever 75 and being urged to rotate by aspring (not shown) operative to move the pads 72 inwardly towards oneanother. The pads 72 are arcuate suciently to follow the circumferentialcontour of the pin 2. One end of each lever 75 is connected to a link76, 77 respectively, and these two links are connected to opposite endsof a centrally pivoted arm 7 8 rotation of which is controlled by a rod79 shown

